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Katie Shorey of Live + Work in Maine
Updated: February 6, 2025
How To
How to convert remote workers into Maine workers
By Katie Shorey, Live + Work in Maine
Maine’s talent pipeline is evolving. Over the past few years, the rise of remote work has given us a unique advantage — an influx of professionals choosing to live in Maine while working for employers elsewhere.
These individuals bring skills, energy and economic contributions to our state. But what if we could take it a step further? What if we could encourage more of them to work for Maine-based employers?
By converting remote workers into local employees, we strengthen our businesses, communities and economy. Here’s how we can make it happen.
Highlight Maine’s career ecosystem
For years, survey data has clearly shown that most people outside of Maine are not aware of the diverse and plentiful reality of our career ecosystem. From health care to analytics, manufacturing to aquaculture, our economy is more diverse than perceptions suggest.
Employers, economic development organizations, and business leaders should proactively showcase Maine’s career pathways. Storytelling — through success stories, industry spotlights and professional networks — can help illustrate the career paths available here.
Build stronger connections with remote talent
Remote workers already living in Maine stand to contribute and benefit the most by being an active part of our business community. Hosting networking events, offering coworking space perks and creating mentorship opportunities can bridge the gap between those individuals and local employers.
Organizations like Live + Work in Maine and Startup Maine, chambers of commerce, young professional groups and online communities such as Nexus Maine can help facilitate these connections and make the transition to a Maine employer feel natural. In this sense, more is better.
Encourage hybrid and flexible work options
Long before COVID, Maine was already a big attraction for folks able to work remote. Our strong and safe communities, outdoor-oriented lifestyle, quality food and quick flights to major cities remain key global competitive advantages in attracting and retaining talented people.
Whenever possible, offering hybrid or flexible work models leverages those natural competitive advantages to the benefit of Maine employers, tapping into this strong and still-growing talent pool. For this group of people, having these policies is non-negotiable. If your employer is considering a blanket return-to-office policy, be sure the recruiting teams are prepared to adjust their strategies as well.
‘Sell’ Maine’s unique lifestyle
Quality of life is why many remote workers choose to live here. But we need to better connect the dots between lifestyle and career. Employers can emphasize how working for a Maine-based company allows professionals to fully integrate into their communities, whether that means a shorter commute, better work-life balance, or a direct role in shaping Maine’s future. This should be made crystal clear in a company’s job description too. Pairing job opportunities with stories of people thriving in Maine can help make the case.
Align with economic incentives and policy support
Maine already has incentives like the Opportunity Maine tax credit (also known as the student loan repayment program) to attract workers. Promoting these benefits and exploring additional incentives — such as relocation assistance, professional development funding or targeted hiring bonuses — make a measurable difference in attracting talent to Maine employers. Business leaders and policymakers should collaborate to make these offerings more visible.
In summary, the remote work boom has given Maine a unique opportunity to showcase our pre-existing competitive advantages in the talent marketplace. Now let’s convert more remote workers into local employees — and strengthen our workforce and communities in the process.
Maine is a great place to live because it’s also a great place to work. We need the talents and perspectives of remote workers to bring our economy to the next level. Let’s make sure more of them know it.
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